Municipality of San Andres
San Andrés is a municipality in the Department of Lempira in Honduras.
In the population census of 1801, it appeared as the village of Guaxinlaca in the subdelegation of Gracias a Dios. In the territorial political division of 1889, it appeared as a municipality in the district of Erandique with the name San Andrés.
Geography
It is located high up in a group of mountains, part of which is known as «Congolón». It has plenty of pine and liquidambar forests, as well as smaller-scale oak forests. The hills and mountains in this municipality are very large and steep.
The climate is temperate for three-quarters of the year, except during summer. Broadleaf trees are also seen, providing shade for coffee crops.
Boundaries
The municipality of San Andrés has the following boundaries: to the north with the municipalities of San Marcos Caiquin Lempira, San Sebastián, and Santa Cruz; to the south with the municipality of Gualcince. To the east with the municipality of Erandique; to the west with the municipalities of Valladolid, Tambla, and Tomalá.
Land area: 243 km²
Resources
Coffee cultivation is the major source of income for this municipality, taking advantage of its elevation above sea level.
Vegetables, corn, and beans are grown on a smaller scale, mostly for local consumption, along with livestock and dairy products. Forest resources are utilized sustainably. It has electricity, but in case of outages, the absence can last a couple of days.
There is mobile communication coverage. Around its main town, there are several water sources that help with local supply and supply for the municipalities of La Virtud, Virginia, Mapulaca, Piraera, and various communities in Valladolid.
There are several communities where vegetables are grown due to their suitable plains for that purpose. There is a waterfall on the Saina River called Yusa, with a 112-meter drop, the highest in the department.
Population
In the case of San Andrés, the majority of the population consists of descendants of indigenous people, especially in the villages near the main town. Mestizos make up a small percentage.
- Population: The National Institute of Statistics of Honduras (INE) recorded a population of 10,472 in 2001, and estimated 12,167 inhabitants for 2008. In 2014, San Andrés had a population of 15,152.
- Villages: 15
- Hamlets: 144
Tourism
Access to this municipality is from the eastern and southern sides of the department. The turnoff to reach the main town is known as «El Guayabo,» a small hamlet in Erandique Lempira, and it takes 15 minutes from there to reach the town center.
The unpaved road is in good condition for most of the year. It benefits from being relatively close to other municipalities like Erandique and Gualcinse.
There are certain sections that have only one lane, so caution must be exercised. The main tourist attractions of this municipality are its forests, especially the Liquidambar forests, which offer beautiful landscapes as their leaves change with the seasons. Coffee plantations also offer the same spectacle. There are attractive small hotels, a gas station, and a hardware store. There are two bus routes to the city of Gracias Lempira.
The municipal government office has internet access. There are small grocery stores. Visitors can enjoy the typical food of the western region, and the locals are very welcoming. During the local fair, many people from surrounding areas come, and various items are sold.
- Patron Saint Fair: November 29th and September 29th, the day of San Andrés
